Kevin Cuneo: Elton John concert tonight

You know it's a hot ticket when they're selling for big bucks in the Erie Times-News classified section. Elton John fans sold out Erie Insurance Arena in a single day, and now the concert is here. It starts tonight at 8, and the reviews of the shows on this tour have been outstanding. Still an energetic performer at 66, John makes it a point to reach out to shake hands with fans who crowd the stage, and he's even been signing some autographs. When he last appeared here in 2000, John posed onstage with a little girl, while her excited mom fumbled with a camera to snap a picture. The mom was so nervous is took a few extra moments, but the patient John kept smiling. ... A packed house cheered loudly Thursday for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which performed at Erie Insurance Arena. The presale for Blue Man Group, which plays Tuesday and Wednesday at the Warner Theatre, is also strong. These are good times for those who enjoy big-time concerts and touring theatrical productions. ... Speaking of the Warner, now that Gov. Tom Corbett is back in campaign mode, perhaps the final piece of state funding for the theater will come through. The Warner dressing rooms are a disgrace, and the theater desperately needs a new heating and cooling system. ... Since the start of November, art auctions in New York and Los Angeles have generated nearly $2 billion. Paintings by Andy Warhol and Willem de Kooning brought bids of nearly $150 million, which means that "Summer Afternoon, Isles of Shoals," the painting at the Blasco Library by American impressionist Frederick Childe Hassam, is probably soaring in value. ... Jay Paterno, son of the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, has kept a low profile since the Oct. 6 Centre County Democratic Dinner when Rob McCord encouraged him to run for Pennsylvania's 5th district congressional seat, which is currently held by Republican Glenn Thompson. Portions of Millcreek Township are in the district. It surprised many people that, unlike his father who was a prominent Republican, Jay Paterno is a Democrat who twice backed Barack Obama for president. ... Virginia Kraus, who died Thursday at 94, was a delightful person who always opened her heart and home to friends, neighbors and friends of her children. I grew up with her son, Charlie Kraus, and Virginia was like a second mom. ... The new hotel under construction across Route 97 from Presque Isle Downs & Casino is rapidly taking shape. ... I hear that Bruce Hoffman has purchased Wagner's Bar & Grille at 1002 W. Eighth St., and he plans to reopen the place on Wednesday as Bruce's Pub and Grub. ... All of the leaves in area creeks have made it a bit more difficult for steelhead trout anglers, but it's still been a terrific season. A recent story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer praised Erie as a great place to fish for steelhead. ... Julie and Chris Moore and the rest of the gang from Tennessee Backporch plan to kick off their annual Christmas show on Dec. 6 at Waterford's All Saints Catholic Church. The show is called "Follow the Star."